AGENDA #4L(1)

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Second Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee

Jimmie Haynes              (Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission)

Colleen Black-Semelka            (Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission)

Bill Holton                                (Library Board)

Margaret Siefert                       (Library Board)

Robert Broad                           (Parks and Recreation Commission)

Faith Nager                              (Parks and Recreation Commission)

 

SUBJECT:       Report of the Second Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee

 

DATE:             September 7 , 2004

 

 

The Second Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee is pleased to present the attached Report of the Second Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee to the Town Council. The Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Report.

 

In the spring of 2004 the Siena Hotel asked the Council to authorize further discussions concerning possible development of Pritchard Park and the Siena Hotel. The Council agreed and formed a new Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee consisting of 2 members each of the Public Arts Commission, the Library Board, and the Parks and Recreation Commission.

 

We believe that this is an opportunity to participate in a public/private partnership that would benefit both the Town and a locally owned business. We support the fundamental findings of the original November 25, 2002 Report of the Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee. In addition, we support several changes that we believe would benefit both parties. These changes are explained in the attached Report.

 

We will be happy to address the Council and answer any questions you may have once the

Report is reviewed by the staff and the full membership of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, Library Board, and Parks and Recreation Commission.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

1. Report of the Second Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee (p. 2).

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

REPORT OF THE SECOND

 

PRITCHARD PARK

 

ART GARDEN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared for the

CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL

 

Kevin Foy, Mayor

Edith M. Wiggins, Mayor Pro Tem

Sally Greene

Ed Harrison

Cam Hill

Mark Kleinschmidt

Bill Strom

Dorothy Verkerk

Jim Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the SECOND PRITCHARD PARK ART GARDEN COMMITTEE

 

Jimmie Haynes              (Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission)

Colleen Black-Semelka            (Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission)

Bill Holton                                (Library Board)

Margaret Siefert                       (Library Board)

Robert Broad                         (Parks and Recreation Commission)

Faith Nager                            (Parks and Recreation Commission)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

In 1996 the Town began the planning process to develop the Pritchard Park program.  The process was halted in April 1996 when the owner of the Siena Hotel petitioned the Council to consider leasing or selling a portion of the park property to the Hotel. In 1997, the Council decided to postpone a decision until after completion of a concept plan for the park.

 

In 1999 the Council authorized the formation of a Pritchard Park Conceptual Plan Committee.  The Committee was formed and first met on November 29, 1999. On November 27, 2000 the Town Council adopted the Report of the Pritchard Park Conceptual Plan Committee. At the same time the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Manager to investigate:

 

·        Terms of a short-term lease of Town land being used by the Siena Hotel

·        Present use of Town property by the Siena Hotel

·        Financial terms of the lease

·        Size of the leased area

·        Potential art garden

·        Security issues

·        Maintenance issues

·        Planning process

·        Stormwater management issues

·        Other relevant issues.

 

The Council also included in its resolution a condition that prior to submittal of any plan to the Council that the Manager should seek input from the Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Board, and Public Arts Commission.

 

On November 25, 2002, the Council adopted the Report of the Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee. The Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee consisted of 2 members each of the Public Arts Commission, the Library Board, and the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Committee investigated a variety of options for designing the proposed art garden including options that involved a partnership with the Siena Hotel and options that did not involve the hotel. The Committee voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend that the Town partner with the Siena Hotel in a manner that would allow a seamless transition between the designs of the two properties, provide funding for the Town’s park and art project, and allow the Siena Hotel to address its parking needs.

 

On March 22, 2004 the Council received a petition from the manager of the Siena Hotel requesting further discussions concerning a proposed public-private partnership for development of Pritchard Park and the Siena Hotel. On April 14, 2004 the Council authorized the Manager to enter into further discussions with the management of the Siena Hotel and formed a new Pritchard Park Art Garden Committee. The Committee started work on June 9, 2004 and met three times. The Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend that the Council adopt this Report.

 

 

 

                                          

DESCRIPTION OF THE ART GARDEN AREA

The proposed Art Garden area is located in Pritchard Park and is bounded by the Siena Hotel to the east, Library Drive to the west, Sherwood Colony Condominiums to the northeast, and a wet area adjacent to a low point near Estes Drive to the southwest of the site.  The property is wooded with mixed hardwoods and pines.  There is a one-half acre open space near Estes Drive that is currently being leased by the Siena Hotel for employee parking.

 

SIENA HOTEL’S DESIRED PROGRAM

The Siena Hotel proposes to make several significant changes to the current plan. Although the Hotel’s plans are still in an early phase of design we know that, at this time, they would like to make the following improvements:

 

1)      To acquire 1.117 acres of land from the Town  in order to adequately expand the Siena Hotel’s facilities to stay competitive in the marketplace and to meet their guests needs/ requirements. (See Map A).

 

2)      Expand the current facility to include the following (See Map B):

·        Outdoor garden areas

·        A one story 250-300 person capacity Ballroom

·        A two-three level parking deck would be built adjacent to Estes Drive. The intent of the Siena Hotel would be to have as much of the deck underground as possible. The parking deck would have about 186 spaces. This would amount to 132 more spaces than are currently on the site.

·        Expansion and reconfiguration of employee work areas.

·        Two wings of guestrooms. The wings would be four stories in height and would add 30 additional guestrooms.

 

3)      To create a public-private partnership with the Town for a seamless transition between the Siena Hotel’s gardens and the Town’s art sculpture garden.

 

4)      To enhance a locally owned and operated business in a manner that would increase the number of employees, payrolls, occupancy taxes, state taxes, and local taxes.

 

JOINT DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED ART GARDEN AND HOTEL PROJECTS

We agree with the findings of the first Art Garden Committee that it would be desirable to work closely with the management of the Siena Hotel to plan and build an art garden that would serve the needs of both entities. In order for these plans to succeed the Town would have to sell the Siena Hotel about 1.117 acres of land from Pritchard Park.

 

The preliminary plans reviewed by the Committee show the Hotel’s proposed improvements and a rough conceptual plan for the Town’s art garden. Please see attached sketch. It’s important to realize that the plans showing the Hotel’s plans and the Town’s art garden are conceptual in nature and are likely to change as plans mature.

 

 

 

 

 

There are actually two open space/garden areas. The first is immediately behind the Hotel and would be used by the Hotel for events. We believe that the Hotel’s garden would likely be more formal than the Town’s. The two spaces would be separated by an arching vegetative buffer or some other way of defining the boundary in an aesthetic manner. An opening would be provided between the two spaces so that visitors could freely walk back and forth between the properties and experience the different art forms. This freedom of movement would likely be restricted during times at which the Hotel would host events on its property.

 

The Town’s portion of the art garden would be served by an approximately 5 car parking lot off of Library Drive. This small lot would likely have both handicap and regular parking spaces. It would serve the general needs of the art garden on most days. For special events we would use the Library parking lot. The Siena Hotel parking might be available on a case-by-case basis.

 

The Town’s art garden would likely consist of a series of paths linking various sites. Part of the plan would include the addition of slabs for installation of sculptures and driveways suitable for servicing the sculptures. This would include the ability to access most of the site with trucks and a small crane to install and de-install pieces of art.

 

COORDINATION WITH THE LIBRARY EXPANSION

The Committee understands that planning for most of Pritchard Park should wait until after construction of the library. However, the Committee believes that it is not necessary to wait for library construction to build the art garden area. The major potential conflict would be the possibility that the art garden area might be used as a construction staging area or used for temporary parking. We believe that construction of the art garden should begin as soon it has been determined that the area is not needed for the library expansion. A recommendation to that effect is listed below.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

We have the following recommendations related to the Hotel expansion, Pritchard Park and the proposed Art Garden:

 

1.      Public/Private Partnership

The Committee strongly recommends that the Town work with the Siena Hotel to develop a mutually beneficial partnership that would enable the Town to build an Art Garden in Pritchard Park and allow the Siena Hotel to meet its parking and building program needs on a long-term basis.

 

2.      Cooperative Design

The Town and the Siena Hotel should jointly design a space that merges the uses of the two properties in a coordinated and sensible manner. Parking, pedestrian travel, landscaping, and other issues should be planned as a single project rather than as two separate projects with different objectives. We recommend that a condition of the sale of land be that the Siena Hotel join with the Town to hire an artist who would work with both the hotel and park design teams. The artist would help the Town and the Siena develop adjoining gardens that would be seamless in nature. The cost of any such artist should be paid in a fair and proportional manner that would be based on the amount of work performed for each property owner.

 

3. Design Objectives

The Committee recommends that development of the Siena Hotel, Pritchard Park, and the art garden area meet the following objectives:

·        Blend art and nature

·        Protect the environmental assets of the property

·        Create visual refreshment through the park’s design

·        Create a park that provides for mental stimulation

·        Encourage community pride and ownership of the park

·        Create a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between neighboring properties

·        Create a sense of discovery and adventure

·        Use plants for design purposes and to trigger sensory experiences

·        Provide for efficient vehicle and pedestrian circulation

·        Provide for adequate parking

 

4.      Sale of Land

The Committee recommends that the Town sell the Siena Hotel approximately 1.117 acres of property contingent upon the Siena Hotel working with the Town to develop a building and garden program that would benefit both the overall community and the Town’s Pritchard Park.

 

5.      Use of Funds Provided by the Siena Hotel

The Committee recommends that any funds generated through a public/private partnership arrangement with the Siena Hotel be earmarked for the proposed Pritchard Park including:

·        Funds from any land sale.

·        The Siena Hotel’s offered contribution and any other potential gifts contributed for the development of the art garden.

·        All past and future lease payments for the current surface parking lot should be allocated to the Pritchard Park project.

 

6.      Siena Hotel Improvements

The following recommendations relate to the project proposed by the hotel:

·        The parking deck should be compact and involve as little tree loss as possible. Landscaping should be used to minimize the visual impact from both Estes Drive and Pritchard Park.

·        The Hotel should use bio-retention in their design.

·        The Siena Hotel should own the garden area directly behind the hotel. This would require the sale of about 1.117 acres of land to the Siena Hotel.

·        The Siena Hotel should invite the Town staff and Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission to work with them in the development of any Special Use Permit to ensure that the Hotel’s plans would result in a seamless transition between the properties.

 

7. Pritchard Park and the Art Garden

The following recommendations relate to development of the park:

·        A parking lot with about 5 spaces should be provided off of Library Drive primarily for park users. This parking lot in conjunction with the Library’s parking lot would provide adequate parking for most users. The small parking lot would also provide close-in handicap access. This parking area is shown on the attached sketch.

·        Art should be integral throughout Pritchard Park and should not be limited to the typical 1% designated by the Town for art in capital projects. This concept was recommended in the 2000 Report of the Pritchard Park Conceptual Plan Committee.

·        An artist should be included on the team that eventually designs Pritchard Park and the art garden.

 

8. Buffers

We recommend that the Siena Hotel be responsible for all buffer requirements. We specifically recommend that the proposed land sale/trade with the Siena Hotel incorporate all buffers on the Hotel’s side of the new property line. If that is not possible there should be an agreement that would require the Siena Hotel to be responsible for the costs of providing the buffer on the Town side of the line.

 

9. Schedule

We currently have enough funds to pay for design and to have an artist on the design team. We believe that the Town should pursue design of the Town’s art garden at the same time the Siena Hotel may desire to pursue a Special Use Permit based on the enclosed conceptual plan. From a design and development standpoint the art garden area need not be integral to the rest of Pritchard Park. If possible, the art garden should be built before the remainder of the Pritchard Park project.

 

 

NEXT STEPS

If the Council adopts the recommendations in this Report we could hire a design firm and an artist to begin work on the art garden area as soon as the Siena Hotel begins its work.

 

Prior to any construction of the Town’s art garden we must first determine if the space is needed for library construction staging or temporary parking. We believe that planning for the greater park should wait until after construction of the library expansion.